Seven new members were included in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's incumbent cabinet as state ministers. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the new state ministers at the historic Durbar Hall in Bangabhaban at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Mar 1). After the swearing-in, they also signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy, local media reported.
The new inducted state ministers are – Md Abdul Wadud, lawmaker from Rajshahi-5, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, lawmaker of Naogaon-2, Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, lawmaker of Chattogram-14 and MPs from reserved women's seats: Shamsunnahar Chanpa, Wasika Ayesha Khan, Nahid Izhar Khan, and Rokeya Sultana.
Following the Bangladesh Awami League's landslide victory in the Jan 7 election, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina formed her fourth consecutive government on Jan 11. In the 37-member cabinet, there are 26 ministers and 11 state ministers. With the new ones, the total number of members of the cabinet stood at 44. Now, Sheikh Hasina's cabinet includes 26 ministers and 18 state ministers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President's spouse Dr Rebecca Sultana were present at the oath-taking ceremony. Guests present at the historic Durbar Hall who witnessed the function, included Jatiyo Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, ministers, parliament whips, members of parliament (MPs), secretaries concerned to the President and PM offices, political leaders, journalists, senior civil and military officials.
The ceremony began with the recitation from the holy Quran. They took oath first pledging to preserve, protect and defend the national constitution and state sovereignty.
Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the oath-taking function, while around two hundred guests were invited to witness the ceremony.
On Jan 7, the 12th parliament election was held in 299 seats. The Awami League attained a resounding victory, bagging 223 seats with the 'boat' symbol. The Jatiyo Party won 11 seats and independent candidates 62 seats, partners of the Awami League-led 14-party combine-Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) got one seat each. Bangladesh Kalyan Party won one seat in the polls.
